Over 5,000 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Ireland

It is one of the highest ever daily figures of confirmed Covid cases reported in the country to date.

5,483 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Ireland on Friday (12 November), the highest daily figure since early January. As of 8am on Friday, 549 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 96 are in intensive care units. The Department of Health has said daily case numbers may change due to future data validation. RTÉ News reports that the 5,483 figure includes a backlog of around 1,200 cases. https://twitter.com/roinnslainte/status/1459207559919939587 "Today we are reporting one of our highest ever daily figures of confirmed cases of Covid-19," Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Tony Holohan said in a statement on Friday evening. "This is another indication of the very significant increase in the incidence of disease in almost all age groups across the population." Ahead of the weekend, the CMO said the public needs to continue to make every effort to "drive down incidence of disease and break the chains of transmission". He urged people to think before leaving their house about the number of people they are going to meet and the risk associated with the activities they have planned. He said the following measures can reduce risk:

• Keep your contacts low and avoid crowds
• Wear a mask correctly
• Meet outside if possible
• Avoid poorly ventilated indoor spaces
• Practise good hand and respiratory hygiene

The CMO said vaccines remain "extraordinarily effective" against severe disease and that the vast majority of people with Covid are experiencing mild symptoms. However, he added that the outcome for any one person diagnosed with Covid-19 is "uncertain" and that it remains vital the public all continue to adhere to the public health advice in order to protect themselves and their families. "If you have any symptoms of Covid-19, you should assume that you have this virus, self-isolate immediately and arrange a test. Do not assume that it’s just a cough or a cold," the CMO added. Main image via Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie